The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-05
Tom Thumbs Widow, Now Countess, Ap-
pears Once More in New York and Calls
Upon Her Fashionable Acquaintances.
How Swell Girls of the Metropolis Con-
duct Themselves in Sanctuary.
Young Woman Details Her Experiences in
aCanoe Voyage on the HudSOn-The Cause
of the Big Fuss in the Catlin Family.
,pecial to the IndianaroIis Journas.

NEW YORK, June 4.-Now we have it. What?
Why. the positively correct costume for sum
mer wear at the summer resorts where the rural
ism is truly rural. Tuxedo Park is a monarchy
as you know, where the personality of the resi-
dents and much of their behavior is arbitrarily
settled by the exquisite board of managers. 1t
is no joke. nor even the slightest perverson of
the truth TO say that the Tuxedo directors have
fixed style of dress for feminine outdoor
seekers after summer Incidence activity. Sew
eral of the most intensely fashionable garment
makers have got the specifications right from
headquarters and so l can tell you just about
what the swell girls will wear at Tuxedo this
son. The waist is to be blouse, the skirts un
draped and the waist encircled by sash. The
head covering will be n loose cap. that can be
pulled over the face enough to shade it from the
sun. The material will be knitted fine wool. and
the colors the brightest Imaginable in stripes al
ternating with grey. blue and brown.
In the way of little things social, yesterday
close carriage drive up to the Belmont
residence in Fifth avenue. There plenty of
high style about the sleek, spirited horses the
liveried driver and lackey, and the mirror-like
blackness of the polished vehicle; but those
qualities can now be had at the best livery
dicate ownership on the part of the
occupants. What made me stop and covertly
stare was the emergence Of three and a half
foot lady. She was matronly in shape and mien.
her face was handsome forty five. and her
dress the perfection of quiet fashion. Had
my eyes suddenly become telescopic wrong end
to@ 1 rubbed them and looked again By that
time the lady in miniature was ascending the
ReJnopt etenx Tnau T raooOnize6 her She
was Mrs Tom Thumb, otherwise the Countess
Magrie, who had within three days arrived from
Europe, and was making round of formal calls.
Mrs Thumb has considerable circle Of pre-
tentious acquaintances in New York, and she is
very punctious in her attention to the usages
of polite society.
went with country friend to Grace Church
to observe the demeanor of the fashionable girls
who rendezvous there of Sabbath morning.
We arrived just the organist began his volun-
tary and the pews were not half full Moreover,
it looked as if there was not going 70 be much of
a house, for few people were coming in. We sat
for short time in q pew at the side that com
manded view of the entrance. Others were
there waiting for the ushers to find them better
seats When the voluntary was about coming
to an end the pew holders began to arrive The
girls rustled by in magnificent apparel and
every one of them paused for instant at the
head Of the aisle, looking about the church be-
fore she walked down to her pew. Each
also carried elegant edition of the prayer
book in her hands. The most popular edition
had giltedged leaves. blue back and q
blue border on vellum The
rector and his assistants and the choir
marched in, and the stream of incoming pew
holders increased. The fashionable character
of the audience became more marked. A typ
ical pair of delightful and handsome girls came
in while the minister was engaged in reading
the service They entered at opposite sides Of
the vestibule, recognizing each other. and
together with a resounding kiss that echoed its
way down the broad aisle and lost itself in the
sounding board the pulpit. They held
their prayer books daintily before them and
chatted aud smiled, and they smiled each
took rapid but keen surveys OF the others
dress. Each vas blessed with elegant fig
ure and a rich papa, and there little room
for dlsadvantaeeous comparison with the
other.
when are you going awayP asked one.
Next week; when do you gol'
lob, we're going the day after to morrow
We shall go to Geneva in July. you know"
the same time We must persuade our papas to
take the same steamer" Then going to the
baise doors that opened upon the broad aisle
she peeped through and whispered Il think
there are strangers 10 our pew"
Never mind" said the other; 'you must sit
with me-"
So they came in to the head of the side aisle
stood for a moment the others had done and
then walked about f-way down the church to
their pew. A moment later the usher conducted
us to a pew near them. When they entered
their pew they gave a swing to their skirts to
assure themselves that the tournure should
come down right. 1t gracefully done. Then
they inclinced their heads one putting a vellurn-
covered prayer book to her eyes, the
other her gloved fingers. prominent on
which glimmered a splendid pearl A
friend in the front pow turned and kindly showed
them the place in the service to whchQthe min
ster had come They smiled their thanks III
the sweetest manner. aud glanced critically but
not unfavorably at their friends bonnet. When,
in the course of the service, it became necessary
to pray for mercy for ''us miserable Sinners"
they moved their lips decorcusly and presum-
ably uttered the selfcondemnatory words. A
girl. In fairly stunning dress. swept
down the aisle TO a pew some distance in front
of them. They turned their heads slightly and
looked with all their decorous ewes the passing
show, and they did not cease to look until several
seconds had elapsed after the newcomer had
taken her seat. During tho sermon tho girls
kept their eyes with considerable steadfastness
in the general direction of the pulpit and
at times, they certainly heard what the preacher
said; but often there was "A dreamy expression on
their faces they glanced at eroined
arch tho preachers head. and one might
have thought that they saw visions Of Geneva
and Paris, and the glory of fine raiment dis
played at Worths Becoming humility
shown when they bowed their heads to receive
the benediction. When the amen was spoken
they stepped quickly. though not with improper
haste, into the aisle. and went to the beautiful
girl whose entrance had distracted their atten-
ton. Their words of greeting ELUSIVE,
and they fell to talking about the trips
abroad in prospect. As they passed up the aisle
just behind US l failed to catch single word
that had the remotest connection with Che topic
of the sermon the general service, And
when they reached the Broadway sidewalk they